nocebo effect

In the final minutes of a lunchtime talk sponsored by the Harvard Medical School, someone in the audience had a question for the two guest speakers, both of whom were there to talk about the placebo effect and its opposite, the nocebo effect. The question to Associate Professor Ted Kaptchuck and Senior Faculty Arthur Barsky went something like this:

“What effect do you think the wide advertisement of drugs on television and media … and sometimes I listen to the side-effects that they cite in the ads, which can include death … what kind of problem is it for physicians when a patient comes in with prior knowledge of side effects?”

It’s the kind of question that takes on greater significance the more you think about it. On a micro level it’s about the side-effects of side-effects, which Dr. Barsky said was an enormous problem and one for which he didn’t have an answer.

On the macro level the question points to what doctors, nurses, patients and all the rest of us have been hearing for years: We have a health care system in need of fundamental change.

The placebo effect is the health response patients experience when they believe they’re receiving a drug or surgery but are actually being given dummy drugs or simulated treatments.

Dr. Lissa Rankin writes, “The placebo effect is real, it works about 18-80% of the time, and it’s not just in your head – it actually dilates bronchi, heals ulcers, makes warts disappear, drops your blood pressure, and even makes bald men who think they’re getting Rogaine grow hair!”

Note: The author or authors are responsible for this blog, which is not edited by the Chronicle.

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About Keith Wommack

I am a Syndicated Columnist, Christian Science practitioner and teacher, musician, and step-dad. -- However, I've been described as a spiritual spur (since every horse needs a little nudge now and then).